Bobbin spindle

ABSTRACT

An unwinding spindle for supporting yarn bobbins comprising a spindle shaft mounted in a housing by means of bearings arranged in spaced relationship from one another. The housing is mounted in a carrier hub so as to be movable through a limited bending angle by means of an elastic flexible support arrangement.

United States Patent Widmer Feb. 11, 1975 BOBBIN SPINDLE [56] References Cited [75] Inventor: Dieter Widmer, Uster, Switzerland UNITED STATES PATENTS [73] Assignee: Spindel-Motoren-u 3,722,826 3/1973 Herrmanns 242/1295 Maschinenf b k A.G. Uster, switzerlanda n Primary Examiner-Leonard D. Christian Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Ladas, Parry, Von Gehr, [22] Fll dl June 27, 1973 Goldsmith & Deschamps [2]] Appl. No.: 373,850

[57] ABSTRACT An unwinding spindle for supporting yarn bobbins [30] Foreign Apphfatmfl Priority Data comprising a spindle shaft mounted in a housing by July 10,1972 Switzerland ..10290/72 means of bearings arranged in spaced relationship from one another. The housing is mounted in a carrier hub so as to be movable through a limited bending l b f l fl t 58 Field Of Search 242/46.7,68,68.3, 129.5, y means" esuppor arrange 9 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure PATENTEB 1 I975 3.865.330

I SHEET 10? 2 PATENIED FEB] I I975 SHEET 2 OF 2' BOBBIN SPINDLE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a new and improved construction of spindle, especially an unwinding spindle for yarn or the like, the spindle shaft of which is mounted in a housing by means of bearings arranged in spaced relationship from one another.

Yarn unwinding spindles are oftentimes mounted at both ends externally of the yarn package. For the simple charging of the spindle with yarn packages it is advantageous to employ overhung. especially essentially horizontally mounted unwinding spindles which at their free end support the yarn package and from which the yarn is withdrawn. Due to this yarn withdrawal operation the yarn package and thus the spindle are placed into rotation. In order that the payed-off yarn is only minimumly loaded these unwinding spindles must be as free as possible of vibration even at high rotational speeds and must rotate particularly easily.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Hence, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved construction of spindle, especially an unwinding spindle for yarn which is capable of satisfying the aforementioned need in the art.

Another and more specific object of the present invention relates to an improved construction of textile spindle, especially an unwinding spindle for yarn, which is capable of outstandingly satisfying the aforementioned aims and contemplates an overhung mounting arrangement for the spindle enabling a particularly vibration-free running of the spindle up to its maximum rotational speed and at the same time incorporates means for providing as small as possible frictional moment.

The vibration-free running of the spindle is realized according to the invention in that the housing is mounted in a carrier hub so to possess a limited angle of bending mobility by means of an elastically resilient support. This renders possible an extremely soft running of the spindle without considerably reducing the static bending strength of the spindle construction, which otherwise would be of considerable disadvantage for the use of the spindle.

Furthermore, according to an extremely advantageous constructional embodiment of the invention the spacing of both spindle bearings is selected to be smaller than the spacing between the upper spindle bearing and the elastic support. On the one hand, this renders possible maintaining smaller the loading of the flexurally movable element notwithstanding the high occurring imbalance of the yarn package and, on the other hand, there is thus realized a considerable increase in the maximum vibration-free rotational speed of the spindle.

The spindle bearings of the described spindle construction, especially when possessing a horizontally arranged axis, are usually lubricated by a grease charge or fill since the more favorable oil lubrication for the bearing friction moment is difficult to control with regard to sealing. State-of-the-art contact seals are associated with the drawback of increased frictional moment, leading to increased loading of the yarn to be payed-off, and additionally, were not always capable of preventing the oil from escaping towards the support ing or carrying end of the spindle and that the yarn wound-up upon the yarn package and withdrawn therefrom would thus become soiled or contaminated.

According to a preferred construction of the spindle it is therefore contemplated that the spindle is arranged at an inclination with regard to the horizontal in such a way that only the bearing remote from the carrying or supporting end of the spindle runs in an oil bath.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above, will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a winding machine or winder equipped with a spindle designed according to the teachings of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is an axial sectional view, on an enlarged scale, through a spindle designed according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Describing now the drawings, in FIG. 1 there is schematically illustrated a winding machine or winder which has been conveniently designated in its entirety by reference character 1, and this winder carries at its upper end an unwinding or pay-off spindle, conveniently designated in its entirety by reference character 2, this unwinding spindle being inclined with respect to the horizontal, as shown. The unwinding spindle 2 is supported by means of a carrier or support hub 3 fixedly arranged at the winder housing la. At the carrier hub 3 there is supported for limited axial movement as well as for limited bending angle or flexural movement a housing 5 which mounts the acutal spindle body or shaft 4 (FIG. 2). At its free supporting or carrying end 20 the unwinding spindle 2 carries a yarn package take-up member 6 upon which there is wound-up a yarn package 7 or the like. During operation a yarn 8 or the like is to be payed-off this yarn package 7 and is to be wound-up upon a winding or wind-up spindle designated in its entirety by reference character 9. According to the showing of FIG. 1, this winding spindle 9 is arranged horizontally at the winding machine 1. Hence, a deflection of the yarn 8 is necessary which can be achieved by means of a suitable yarn deflecting mechanism 10 arranged between the unwinding spindle 2 and the winding or wind-up spindle 9.

Now details of the construction of the unwinding spindle 2 will be apparent by referring to FIG. 2. Hence, it will be seen that the actual spindle body or shaft 4 embodies the free carrying or support end 20 upon which there is seated the yarn package take-up member 6 with the yarn package 7 as well as a bearing shaft 21 of smaller diameter than the supporting end 20. The bearing shaft 21 is mounted at bearing means, here in the form of ball bearings 22 and 23 which are arranged so as to possess in axial direction a comparatively small spacing from one another. In this way the maximum deflection ofa bendingor transverse oscillation of the spindle body can be maintained small.

The ball bearings 22 and 23 are supported by means of their outer races 22a and 230 respectively at the housing 5. At the region near the ball bearing 22 the housing 5 is provided with an oil screw 25 for the introduction and removal of oil in such quantity that the oil level 26 is located beneath the ball bearing 23 neighboring the supporting end 20. Thus, only the ball bearing 22 runs in the oil bath.

Continuing, housing is provided at its lower end with an axially depending plug 27 which extends into an elastically flexible support arrangement or support means designated in its entirety by reference character 28. This elastically flexible support means 28 comprises a thick-walled bushing or sleeve 3] formed of rubber and engaged at the outside and at the inside by the metallic sleeves 29 and 30 respectively. The outer rigid sleeve 29 of the elastic flexible or resilient support means 28 is fixedly seated in the bore 33 of the carrier hub 3 and is fixed in axial position therein by means of a shoulder or stepped portion 34.

At the other side of the shoulder 34 the carrier hub 3 is extended by a collar 35. At the region of the collar 35, at the transition location of the axially depending plug 27, the housing 5 possesses at its outer circumference an annular or ring-shaped groove 36 in which there is accommodated a sealing O-ring 37 defining a elastic buffer-stop means.

The axial support arrangement 28 permits a limited axialand flexural or bending angle movement of the housing 5 and therefore of the unwinding spindle 2 with respect to the carrier hub 3. The movement of the flexural angle is limited by the collar 35 which cooperates in the form of a stop with the flexible O-ring 37.

In order to prevent escape of lubricating oil from the open end of the housing 5 confronting the yarn package 7 under all circumstances, there is provided an oil spray or slinger ring 38 at the spindle body or shaft 4 as well as a closure cap 39 which is placed upon the open end of the housing 5.

Finally, it is mentioned that the spacing of both bearings 22 and 23 from one another is smaller than the spacing between the upper spindle bearing and the elastic support arrangement.

While there is shown and described present preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto, but may be otherwise variously embodied and practiced within the scope of the following claims.

Accordingly, what is claimed is:

l. A spindle, especially an unwinding spindle for yarn, comprising a housing, a spindle shaft, bearings arranged in spaced relationship for supporting the spindle shaft in said housing, a carrier hub, a plug secured to said housing and extending away these from along the axis of the spindle shaft, and an elastically flexible support means for supporting the housing at said carrier hub so as to be movable through a limited bending angle, said elastically flexible support means comprising a bushing formed of elastically flexible material, and

first and second rigid sleeve members engaging the bushing at the inside and outside thereof respectively, the bushing being fixedly supported at its inside by said plug and at its outside by the interior of the carrier hub.

2. The spindle as defined in claim 1, further including stop means effective between the housing and the carrier hub for limiting the bending angle of the housing with respect to the carrier hub.

3. Bobbin spindle, especially an unwinding spindle for yarn, comprising a housing, a spindle shaft, bearings arranged in spaced relationship for supporting the spindle shaft in said housing, a carrier hub, an elastically flexible support means for supporting the housing at said carrier hub so as to be movable through a limited bending angle, and a plug secured to the housing and extending away these from along the axis of the spindle shaft, the plug being supported by the elastically flexible support means and spindle further including stop means effective between the housing and the carrier hub for limiting the bending angle of the housing with respect to the carrier hub.

4. The spindle as defined in claim 3, wherein said elastically flexible support means comprises a bushing formed of elastically flexible material, a respective rigid sleeve member for engaging the bushing at the inside and outside respectively, and wherein said axially depending plug being supported by the rigid sleeve member at the inside of said bushing.

5. The spindle as defined in claim 4, wherein the elastically flexible material of the bushing is rubber.

6. The spindle as defined in claim 3, wherein the stop means comprises an elastic buffer.

7. The spindle as defined in claim 3, wherein the carrier hub extends beyond the flexible support means in the direction from the plug to the housing, the housing has a peripheral groove between the bearings and the flexible support means, and the stop means comprises a sealing O-ring seated in the peripheral groove and cooperating with the interior of the carrier hub.

8. The spindle as defined in claim 3, wherein said spindle shaft has a free carrying end for a yarn package, and the housing contains a bath of oil for lubricating the bearings, the spindle being inclined with respect to the horizontal in such a manner that only the bearing remote from the free carrying end of the spindle shaft runs in the oil bath.

9. The spindle as defined in claim 3, wherein the spacing of said spindle bearings from one another is smaller than the spacing between the upper one of said spindle bearings and the elastically flexible support means. 

1. A spindle, especially an unwinding spindle for yarn, comprising a housing, a spindle shaft, bearings arranged in spaced relationship for supporting the spindle shaft in said housing, a carrier hub, a plug secured to said housing and extending away these from along the axis of the spindle shaft, and an elastically flexible support means for supporting the housing at said carrier hub so as to be movable through a limited bending angle, said elastically flexible support means comprising a bushing formed of elastically flexible material, and first and second rigid sleeve members engaging the bushing at the inside and outside thereof respectively, the bushing being fixedly supported at its inside by said plug and at its outside by the interior of the carrier hub.
 2. The spindle as defined in claim 1, further including stop means effective between the housing and the carrier hub for limiting the bending angle of the housing with respect to the carrier hub.
 3. Bobbin spindle, especially an unwinding spindle for yarn, comprising a housing, a spindle shaft, bearings arranged in spaced relationship for supporting the spindle shaft in said housing, a carrier hub, an elastically flexible support means for supporting the housing at said carrier hub so as to be movable through a limited bending angle, and a plug secured to the housing and extending away these from along the axis of the spindle shaft, the plug being supported by the elastically flexible support means and spindle further including stop means effective between the housing and the carrier hub for limiting the bending angle of the housing with respect to the carrier hub.
 4. The spindle as defined in claim 3, wherein said elastically flexible support means comprises a bushing formed of elastically flexible material, a respective rigid sleeve member for engaging the bushing at the inside and outside respectively, and wherein said axially depending plug being supported by the rigid sleeve member at the inside of said bushing.
 5. The spindle as defined in claim 4, wherein the elastically flexible material of the bushing is rubber.
 6. The spindle as defined in claim 3, wherein the stop means comprises an elastic buffer.
 7. The spindle as defined in claim 3, wherein the carrier hub extends beyond the flexible support means in the direction from the plug to the housing, the housing has a peripheral groove between the bearings and the flexible support means, and the stop means comprises a sealing O-ring seated in the peripheral groove and cooperating with the interior of the carrier hub.
 8. The spindle as defined in claim 3, wherein said spindle shaft has a free carrying end for a yarn package, and the housing contains a bath of oil for lubricating the bearings, the spindle being inclined with respect to the horizontal in such a manner that only the bearing remote from the free carrying end of the spindle shaft runs in the oil bath.
 9. The spindle as defined in claim 3, wherein the spacing of said spindle bearings from one another is smaller than the spacing between the upper one of said spindle bearings and the elastically flexible support means. 